Sponsored by the Alabama Humanities Foundation and Auburn University, the Encyclopedia of Alabama (EOA) is a veritable cornucopia of material about the Yellowhammer State. The EOA draws on the work of many trustworthy and learned authors, and as a statement of the homepage notes, "Alabama's problems are not glossed over, nor are its accomplishments and successes overlooked." Visitors who might not...

Somewhere between Los Angeles and New York is a metropolis affectionately referred to by some as the "Second City". Also known as Chicago, this fair city has recently received its due with the publication of this outstanding reference volume. The online version offered on this site is even more authoritative than the print volume, as it contains a number of interactive maps and special features....

In the past few decades, a number of large American cities have embarked on ambitious encyclopedia projects to document their history, culture, and geography. Indianapolis was one such city, and this impressive 1,600-page encyclopedia was published in 1994. Today, a digitized version resides on this Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis website, where it offers a wonderful way to learn...

The 46th state, Oklahoma, presents its unusual history with the online version of The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. The Encyclopedia was prepared by over 500 "university-based scholars and independent historians and scholars," and was a joint effort by The Oklahoma Historical Society and Oklahoma State University Library Electronic Publishing Center. Visitors can click on the...

At least 30 languages of the Siberian region are considered endangered, and UNESCO is hoping to preserve, anchor, and develop them. The "Roundtable" link in the menu near the top of the page, allows visitors to read a few sentences by the contributors to the roundtable, on three thematic blocks. Visitors can click on "text" at the end of the paragraph to read the whole discussion, and view a...

With a focus on interdisciplinary work, Endangered Species International has a set of core values that includes "passion for nature" and "optimism for solving the species extinction crisis." On their homepage, visitors can learn about their latest actions, see their latest photos from the field, and learn about their research projects. First-time visitors should click on the "Our Projects" area,...

Concerns about the United States' dependence on oil are nothing new, and various policy solutions have been around for decades. A number of scholars and experts have been attempting to address the subject, and one recent paper from The Brookings Institution offers a number of thoughtful ideas on this important concern. Released in January 2007, this 25-page paper written by David B. Sandalow...

Legendary political cartoonist Herb Block left no pressing issue (or political party) unturned during his long career, which spanned most of the 20th century. Along the way, he picked up three Pulitzer Prizes, including one in 1973 that he won with his Washington Post colleagues for their coverage of the Watergate scandal. In 2002, the Herb Block Foundation donated over 14,000 of his original...

As temperatures rise this summer and people turn on their air conditioners, the stakeholders in the electricity supply system worry about system overload. To help prevent overload, people can use less by conserving energy or find more efficient ways to use the energy they do. As researchers develop new technologies, and industry tries to promote those technologies, policy advocates look at...

One doesn't have to look far to find social entrepreneurs working on a range of projects, including crowdsourcing new technological innovation and creating web-based tools to improve the delivery of public services. The Energy Map initiative was designed to pioneer methods to bring affordable renewable energy to the 1.5 billion people around the world that don't have access to these resources. The...